UN Rapporteur Launches Religious Freedom Mission in Nigeria

Professor Nazila Ghanea, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, began an official fact-finding tour in Nigeria on June 8, 2026. This mission, initiated at the invitation of the Federal Government of Nigeria, will last 12 days and focus on evaluating the country's complex religious landscape and ongoing security issues.

The tour will include consultations with federal security ministers, civil society activists, and religious leaders from both Islam and Christianity. The mission aims to investigate the application of blasphemy laws and the rise in coordinated attacks, particularly during major religious holidays.

The findings will contribute to a comprehensive report to be delivered to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva by March 2027. This initiative occurs amid heightened international scrutiny regarding Nigeria's security situation, with significant civilian casualties reported since 2009, including 53,000 total casualties and 12 million displaced individuals due to ongoing conflicts.